Alternative Break: Trading Sun-Soaked Days for Service That Lasts
For some students, spring break is an opportunity not to make sandcastles in the sun, but to make a difference in the world.
Above (l–r): Students Lila Hornak and Gabby Mann (Photos by the Center for Civic Engagement)
If you think spring break is all sunscreen and sandals, think again. For College of Charleston students in the Center for Civic Engagement’s Alternative Break (AB) program, it’s an opportunity not to make sandcastles in the sun, but, rather, to make a difference in the world.
“Alternative Break is about more than volunteering,” says Anne McGrath, programs coordinator for the Center for Civic Engagement. “It’s a way for students to engage and grow as civic leaders through a combination of education, service and reflection. Along the way, it broadens the scope of their experience at CofC and begins to lay the foundation for a lifelong passion for civic engagement.”
What makes Alternative Break unique is its intentional structure. Before departure, students attend meetings to learn about the region and the social issues they’ll encounter. During the trip, each day ends with a group reflection and discussion that’s designed to tap into participants’ critical thinking skills as they consider the day’s experiences and its impact on various segments of society, including themselves, the community/ies they served, other regions and people as a whole.
Recent trips have taken students across the globe and closer to home – from helping rebuild communities in rural North Carolina after Hurricane Helene to supporting environmental education efforts in Zakynthos, Greece.
This year, students traveled to Charlotte, North Carolina, to focus on housing and food insecurity – two issues that affect more people than many realize.
No matter the destination, AB students share common goals: to broaden the scope of their College of Charleston experience and gain a lifelong passion for civic engagement.
Service in Action
Day 1: Setting the Tone
The group arrived at camp and dove straight into a creative service project: designing welcome mats and planters for Habitat for Humanity homeowners. Setting the tone of the trip through creativity and fellowship, it was a chance to connect, collaborate outdoors and build a sense of community.
“My favorite part of this year’s experience was watching our volunteers build bonds and be vulnerable with each other,” says Caroline Dumm, a sophomore biology major who participated in last year’s AB and served as a site leader this year. “It is inspiring to be a part of a group of your peers where you sincerely feel valued and heard.”
With that foundation, the students were ready for the week’s deeper work to begin.
Day 2: Understanding Housing Insecurity
Students kicked off the first full day of service with Habitat for Humanity-Charlotte, starting with a tour of the Hope Springs neighborhood, home to 19 Habitat-built houses.
As one of the only Habitat neighborhoods in the country, Hope Springs is a powerful model of community-driven development. Homeowners are actively involved in the design and implementation of their neighborhood homeowners association, discussing how they want their neighborhood to grow and providing family-specific input on the design and layout of their individual homes. One standout detail for the students was the extra-wide sidewalks, designed to make the neighborhood safer and more walkable for families.
The students’ discussions also focused on the changing face of Habitat homeowners, including a growing number of professionals in fields like nursing and education whose salaries make them eligible for Habitat homeownership. And, in an unexpected highlight of the trip, the students painted playhouse parts to be installed at Habitat homes through their Playhouse fundraising efforts.
Day 3: Tackling Food Insecurity
The group spent the day at two very different food distribution centers, gaining insight into the scale and complexity of food insecurity.
Impact by the Numbers
- 668 boxes of food packed
- 657 miles across two states
- 540 hours of service (45 hours of service x 12 participants in the group)
- 400 Backpack Project weekend food kits assembled for area school children
- 14+ pallets filled with boxed food kits
- 9 student participants across multiple majors (including public health, historic preservation, psychology, biology)
- 4 service sites (Habitat, Nourish Up, Second Harvest of Metrolina, Feed NC)
- 2 student volunteer site leaders, both of whom came back to lead the effort after participating in the 2025 ASB service experience to Burnsville, NC
- 2 pre-departure meetings to help educate participants about the Charlotte region, and housing and food insecurity issues
- 1 Learning Partner (staff member)
At Nourish Up, students packed 468 boxes of nonperishable food – enough to feed 468 families for a week. They also toured the site’s grocery store, which provides essentials like fresh produce and baby supplies.
Later, the group upped their assembly skills at Second Harvest of Metrolina, a much larger operation that provides service throughout the Carolinas and into Georgia. They sorted 2,200 pounds of produce into 200 boxes that were delivered to families that very afternoon. They also assembled 400 weekend food kits that were distributed to area schools to support food-insecure children as part of the local Backpack Project efforts.
Day 4: Connecting Through Community
On what was perhaps the most rewarding day, the students worked to support Feed NC, splitting into three groups:
- Mimi’s Garden – Students shoveled and laid compost in this onsite garden, where fresh produce is harvested for Donoghue’s Open Door restaurant, the grocery store and families.
- Donoghue’s Open Door – Students supported the volunteer wait staff at this full-service restaurant, which provides meals to those in need. They staffed the coffee station, manned the dishwasher and scrubbed pots.
- Grassroots Grocery – Students restocked shelves and supported shoppers.
Many of the students had the chance to talk directly with Feed NC patrons, hear their personal stories and develop a better understanding of what it means to be food-insecure and how that impacts family dynamics.
Why It Matters
Alternative Break isn’t just about where students go – it’s about how they grow.
By the end of the trip, participants leave with more than memories. They gain a deeper understanding of complex issues like housing and food insecurity, a stronger connection to community and a renewed sense of purpose.
“Being a part of AB has taught me the value of asking why,” says Dumm. “I have learned that it is possible to find common ground with any person you come across; you just have to be willing to ask questions and listen.”
For students looking to make their college experience more meaningful, Alternative Break offers something different: a chance to step outside the classroom, engage with the world and come back changed.
